Stop Worrying And Start Living!

SERMON OUTLINE:

The Problem of Worry:

Worry is unreasonable (vs 25)

Worry is undermining (vs 26)

Worry is unproductive (vs 27)

Worry is unreasonable (vs 30b-31).

Worry is unchristian (vs 32).

The Solution for worry:

Stop living for things and start living for God! (vs 33)

Stop living for tomorrow and enjoy today! (vs 34)

SERMON BODY:

Ill:

• The story is told of a man who was watching a TV programme late at night,

• When to his surprise a mouse right across the room, before his very eyes

• He was shocked, but immediately took action,

• He found a mousetrap and then went to the fridge to get some cheese.

• But there was no cheese, it had all been eaten!

• So, he did what he thought was the next best thing.

• He got a food magazine that had colourful photos in it.

• And he cut out a picture of cheese and put it in the mousetrap.

• He then went to bed.

• Now the next morning he woke up and went to check the mousetrap,

• And…you are not going to believe this,

• But he found there, a picture of a mouse in the trap!

• TRANSITION: And the moral of the story is…

• If you want to catch the real thing, you’ve got to put out the real thing!

• If you want to help people not to worry,

• You need to say something real and practical, and Jesus does just that!

Transition: All people at some-time will experience worry:

• The things that worry you will probably not worry me,

• And the things that worry me may be very different to the things that worry you,

• But worry is a common experience that all of us experience at some time or other.

• Or to use substitute words, we will experience; ‘anxiety, burden, care, trouble, fear’.

Ill:

• The Greek New Testament word for worry means: "To be divided or distracted".

• Worry works by getting at our minds and our emotions by distracting them:

• We want to think about one particular thing;

• But instead we keep on being distracted, to think on something else

• Our thoughts are divided:

• We cannot let go, we cannot forget about the problem or situation,

• And concentrate on something else.

Ill:

• Our English word 'Worry' comes from an Anglo-Saxon word which means 'harm';

• It is another form of the word 'wolf’.

• Like a wolf mangles a sheep,

• So anxiety and worry is something that is harmful and damaging to us.

• Worry will so often sabotage a Christians faith:

• If we let it, then it will rob us of our peace and contentment in God!

Notice:

• That in these verses Jesus isn’t giving us a suggestion.

• He isn’t saying, “Well, in my humble opinion, it might be a good idea not to worry!”

• No! In the original Greek, this is a strong command!

• “Do not worry!”

Quote:

• “Prayer is an acknowledgment of faith; worry is a denial of faith.

• Prayer is putting my hand in God's, trusting to His loving guidance;

• Worry is withdrawing my hand, and denying His power to lead me.

• Prayer leads through the door of faith into the presence of God;

• Worry leads through the door of anxiety;

• Into the darkness of loneliness and discouragement.

• If prayer rules the life victory results.

• If worry rules the life then defeat will follow!”

Context:

• Verse 25 starts with a ‘therefore’ and so this section of teaching;

• Is linked to what Jesus has just been saying in verses 19-24

• The warning in these verses is the danger of a wrong attitude;

• Towards our treasurers and our money.

• The point Jesus is making is:

• It is not wrong to possess things;

• BUT it is always wrong for things to possess us!

“‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 ‘The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 ‘No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”